It is only when all hope is lost that Paul addresses his fellow shipmates.557 Much time had passed, the storm had not diminished, the ship was being constantly mauled by the storm, and the passengers had gone a long time without food. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. But there was a problem. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. of Some Christians are inclined to live their lives sloppily, believing that because God is sovereign He will, on demand, produce a miracle to deliver us from the fruits of our own foolishness. These passengers were spared, I suspect, so that they could not only hear the gospel, but experience the hope which the gospel gives, and the power by which the gospel saves unworthy sinners. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Passing it with considerable difficulty, and apparently not being able to make port there, they finally were able to make port at a place known as Fair Havens,548 which was not far from the city of Lasea, where they could have spent the winter. It was the crew of the ship who lived dangerously, foolishly risking the ship, the cargo, and the lives of all on board, just to get ahead a little. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. The sovereignty of God means not only that God is able to intervene supernaturally, but that He is also able to work naturally, through human instruments (like the Roman soldiers, and in our story, like the centurion, in Pauls behalf). What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. I read in the paper the other day that when faced with the decision as to whether he should change to an alternate airport or press on to the original destination, the pilot of a commercial airliner left the choice with his passengers. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. His church was a murmuring people. Nobody said it would be easy. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). Pauls caution is rather interesting. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. Read Chapter All Versions. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. 38. A Biblical Look at Leadership (Acts 27:1-44) | Bible.org There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10). His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. Examples of democratic leaders? - Answers Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). Democratic leadership style: How to make it work as a team - BetterUp It was time for another word of encouragement. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. Servant Leaders in the Bible | Servant Leader | Servant | Leadership The sovereignty of God means that we dare not presume that God will work a miracle for us, at the time and in the way we choose, due to our foolishness, carelessness, or sin. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Fearing that they might drift into shallow and dangerous waters some distance to the south,553 they put out a sea anchor of some kind, perhaps something like a parachute, which filled with water and slowed the ship down.554, The storm continued through the night, and the next day things looked even worse. Petty criticism wears on the leader. 4 Motivating Examples of Godly Leadership in the Bible - Crosswalk.com Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. The angry mob, which the Asian Jews had incited in Jerusalem, were trying to kill Paul, but God used Claudius Lysias and his soldiers to save his life. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. Pauls Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. The one whose fate was sure and certain, was the most cautious; those whose ultimate fate was most uncertain were those who lived most dangerously. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. But today, we want to focus on a . Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. The encouraging news that Paul was about to tell them was that he was both right and wrong when he had warned them not to sail. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. He must live wisely and be just. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. Salem Media Group. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. Now they were ready for the days activities. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. 564 Would he not have dared to command the soldiers not to kill Paul, but to have allowed the others to be put to death? No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. A theophany had taken place in Joshua 5:15: "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. 557 This is not to suggest that Paul now emerged because he knew that this was the low-point of his fellow-passengers, but because the night before the angel of God had appeared to him. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. 1 Timothy 3:5. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. Not one soul was lost. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. Allow me to make one last observation here. They were so sure of the wisdom of their decision that they did not even draw up the small boat attached by a rope to the vessels stern (verse 16). The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. This was, I think, to cause the ship to draw less water, and thus to float higher in the water, so that it would not as easily drag bottom.560 The ship would therefore be closer to shore when it struck bottom, making it a shorter swim (or float). The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. 562 St. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. An elder must live a blameless life. Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. There was some level of favoritism going on. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. This is influence and leadership in action. Luke now passes over the details of a number of the days that followed, indicating only that many days passed, and that the storm continued to abuse the ship and to terrify its passengers. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. The stern of the ship began to break up. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. Time would prove Paul right. We're sorry, an error occurred. The hour is hopeless. The seas were closed to sailing until the beginning of February at the earliest; the three months spent in Malta must therefore have corresponded roughly to November, December, and January, so they must have left Fair Havens not much before mid-October. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. 1 Peter 5:3. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. They were not in control of the ship. 18 Bible verses about Examples Of Leadership - Knowing Jesus Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. They would hardly wish to be close to shore in the storm anyway, for there was more danger of the ship breaking up on the rocks than of it breaking up in the open sea. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. God does not jump through our hoops and thus Paul never presumed that he had Gods power on tap to use when and how he chose. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. There were no petty thieves on board this ship. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. Please see below for details. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? It will, however, come eventually. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless.
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